Improvement in washing-machines



JAMES M. CLARK, OF LANCASTER, ASSIGNOR TO FRANKLIN L. CLARK, CF CLARKSVILLE, PENNSYLVANIA.

IMPROVEMENT IN WASHING-MACHINES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 117,603, dated August l, 187i.

To all whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES M. CLARK, of the cityof Lancaster, county of Lancaster and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Machine for Washing 5 and I do hereby declare the following to be an exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawing and to the letters of referencemarked thereon making a part of this speciication, in which- Figure l represents a sectional elevation of the machine, with its beaters, driving-wheels, revolving tub, and frame. Fig. 2 shows a side elevation of the same. Fig. 3 shows a sectional view of the beaters.

The nature of my invention consists in a series of toothed wheels, two-fourths of their peripheries plain and the other two-fourths with cogs (operated by a crank or belt-wheel) gearing into vertical racks on the faces of a series of vertical and reciprocating' beaters and pressinglevers operating upon an upright frame and base formed of staves, as a reversed tub, having a revolving platform that revolves the washing-tub.

To enable others skilled in the art to make ind use my invention, I will describe it, as folows:

In Fig. l I have a series of vertical and reciprocating beaters, A A A, (six, more or less,) operating on an upright frame, B, with a circular base, C, being a tub, bottom side up, with its staves (strongly hooped) forming the feet B and upright side pieces or frame B B, having' a disk or revolving platform, D, on the top of the base C, and a shaft, E, with a cog-wheel, F, beneath, gearing into a pinion, G, on an upright shaft, H, with a bevel-wheel, J ,.at top that gears into another bevel-wheel, K, that is upon the horizontal driving-shaft L, upon which are six toothed wheels, M M, corresponding with the number of beaters used, having two-fourths, more or less, of cogs on each side of the periphery of each wheel, and two-fourths, more or less, ofthe periphery plain without cogs (that I style interrupted cog-wheels) that, as they gear into the racks N of each beater A A, the beater is raised twice in each revolution of the wheels M. The shaft L has a wheel, P, on its outer end, with a crank to drive it, and a dog, y, and ratchet, that the revolution ofthe shaft L may be reversed when used for pressing purposes. Q Q are cross-ties and guides at the top of the, frame, toukeep the rack N and locking one, more, or all of the beati ers A when required. At the back side of the beaters A is a pivote'd upright frame, S, Fig. 2,

pivoted at T onto the main frame B B, and is adjustable, being held in its upright position by sideI fastenings U U. Attached to this frame S are two friction-rollers, V V, that .support the beaters A in their upright position andY aid the reciprocating motion of the beater-s A, so that they operate freely and easily without any interruption or jarring motion, and lessen the friction of the beaters A in their ascension and descension. On both ends of the beaters A there are weights XV W, which are intended to be used as dead-weights, for the purpose of adding more weight to the beaters when required; and these weights are movable and have slotted ends, to be attached by screw-bolts and detached when necessary. At one end of the beaters A rollers X X, made of any suitable material, are attached to prevent any undue friction or injury to the clothing; and the rollers may be covered with any elastic material, and, by having oblique or inclined ends, they do not catch or tear the clothing. The wash-tub V has two bottoms, the upper one being perforated, and a space between it and the lower one to hold the sediment and keep the clothing separate from the dirty water; On the one side of the tub is a water-cock, a., for the purpose of discharging the water. The tub Y rests upon the revolving platform D, and is carried around with itrby the motion given to it by the under wheel F and shaft E. Around the bottom side of the tub Y is a circular trough, b, which receives the water from the cock a, from whence it is discharged at the spout c; and for rinsing purposes a stream of water is led into the top of the tub, and, by its continual liow of clear water, passing through the clothes and perforated bottom and then discharged at the spout c, all the sediment and dirt are completely carried off and the clothing cleaned.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. The series of wheels M, as arranged onthe one shaft, L, and so constructed as to press down, or raise and let drop, the beaters A A, when required,

rrrcn.

at eaoh revolution of the Wheels, and When oom- 3. The series of hinged catches R R, for lookbined and opernytil'lg with the beaters A and rollin g one or more of the beaters A, When arranged ers V, as set forth. and A.trmzhed to the cross-tie j of the frame S, es

2. The revolving iiftnged platform D, With its set forth.

revolving; tub, and combined with the upright JAMES M. CLARK.

shaft H and bevel-Wheels J and K, when oper- Witnesses:

ated by the gearing G underneath the platform, I. FRANKLIN REIGART,

es described. EDM. F. BROWN. 

